The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But VEF Riga won fourth quarter 23-13. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening, at least not yet. The game turned upside-down in the last quarter, where VEF Riga used huge pressure winning it 23-13 getting a tie at the end of regular time. They lost eventually double-overtime period 19-23. Kalev/Cramo forced 25 VEF Riga turnovers. 42 personal fouls committed by VEF Riga helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for forward Rait Keerles (201-80) who led his team to a victory with 24 points and 8 rebounds. American center Michael Dunigan (208-89, college: Oregon, agency: N.E.T.) contributed with 19 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. American-Puerto Rican guard TreVon Hughes (183-87, college: Wisconsin, agency: Edge Sports) answered with 17 points and 5 assists for VEF Riga. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Kalev/Cramo maintains seventh place with 11-10 record. VEF Riga at the other side keeps the second position with five games lost. Kalev/Cramo will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. VEF Riga will play at home against the league's leader Ventspils where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
One of the most interesting games of round 21 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. The game took place in Tallinn where third ranked TU/Rock won against host Kalev/Cramo (11-10) 64-55. American power forward Callistus Eziukwu (208-85, college: Grand Valley St.) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 18 rebounds for the winners and Rain Veideman chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. TU/Rock's coach Indrek Visnapuu allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was guard Gert Dorbek (194-85) with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Defending Estonian champion maintains third place with 14-6 record having just -34 point less than leader Juventus. Kalev/Cramo at the other side keeps the seventh position with ten games lost. TU/Rock will play against Siauliai (#5) on the road in the next round. Kalev/Cramo will have a break next round.
One of the most interesting games of round 21 was a derby match between two teams from Latvia. First ranked Ventspils won against visiting Liepaja (6-14) 95-77. Oritseweyinmi Efejuku nailed 30 points and 4 assists (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) for the winning side. Pierce Caldwell came up with 18 points for Liepaja in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Ventspils (16-4) have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place. Loser Liepaja keeps the tenth position with 14 games lost. Ventspils will meet league's second-placed VEF Riga on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Liepaja will play against Nevezis (#6) in Kedainiai and hope to secure a win.
The game in Kedainiai was also worth to mention about. Second ranked Latvian VEF Riga (15-5) played at the court of 5th ranked Lithuanian Nevezis (12-8). VEF Riga managed to secure a 9-point victory 83-74. The best player for the winners was Artsiom Parakhouski who scored 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks. Nevezis' coach Rimas Girskis rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. VEF Riga maintains second place with 15-5 record having just -35 point less than leader Juventus. Nevezis lost their third game in a row. They keep the fifth position with eight games lost. VEF Riga's next round opponent will be league's leader Ventspils at home and it will be for sure the game of the week. Nevezis will play against Liepaja (#10).

In the last game of round 21 Valmiera were beaten by Norrkoping on the road 88-83.

Elite
Kalev/Cramo — VEF Riga 109-105 2OT

Seventh ranked Estonian Kalev/Cramo won a double-overtime thriller edging second-best Latvian VEF Riga by four points 105-109 on Friday night. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But VEF Riga won fourth quarter 23-13. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening, at least not yet. The game turned upside-down in the last quarter, where VEF Riga used huge pressure winning it 23-13 getting a tie at the end of regular time. They lost eventually double-overtime period 19-23. Kalev/Cramo forced 25 VEF Riga turnovers. 42 personal fouls committed by VEF Riga helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for forward Rait Keerles (201-80) who led his team to a victory with 24 points and 8 rebounds. American center Michael Dunigan (208-89, college: Oregon, agency: N.E.T.) contributed with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. American-Puerto Rican guard TreVon Hughes (183-87, college: Wisconsin, agency: Edge Sports) answered with 17 points and 5 assists and Latvian power forward Kaspars Berzins (213-85, agency: FCM) added 14 points and 11 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) in the effort for VEF Riga. Four Kalev/Cramo and five VEF Riga players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Kalev/Cramo maintains seventh place with 11-10 record. VEF Riga at the other side keeps the second position with five games lost. Kalev/Cramo will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. VEF Riga will play at home against the league's leader Ventspils where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
VEF Riga: A.Parakhouski 17+3reb, T.Hughes 17+4reb+5ast, S.Valters 15+5reb+4ast, K.Berzins 14+11reb+1ast, B.Bakic 12+3reb+3ast, I.Nelyubov 11+2reb
Kalev/Cramo: R.Keerles 24+8reb+1ast, T.Sokk 23+2reb+4ast, M.Dunigan 19+11reb, G.Dorbek 18+2reb+1ast, A.Skele 7+7reb+1ast, R.Tamm 7+4reb+2ast
gschID: 117290


Kalev/Cramo — TU/Rock 55-64

One of the most interesting games of round 21 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. The game took place in Tallinn where third ranked TU/Rock won against host Kalev/Cramo (11-10) 64-55. It looked good early as Kalev/Cramo took an 1-point lead at the end of first quarter. But then TU/Rock had a 21-12 second period charge getting the lead and Kalev/Cramo was not able to take back game control losing it eventually 55-64. They outrebounded Kalev/Cramo 48-29 including 18 on the offensive glass. American power forward Callistus Eziukwu (208-85, college: Grand Valley St.) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 18 rebounds for the winners and guard Rain Veideman (192-91) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. TU/Rock's coach Indrek Visnapuu allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was guard Gert Dorbek (194-85) with 18 points and 5 rebounds and American center Michael Dunigan (208-89, college: Oregon, agency: N.E.T.) scored 11 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocks. Defending Estonian champion maintains third place with 14-6 record having just -34 point less than leader Juventus. Kalev/Cramo at the other side keeps the seventh position with ten games lost. TU/Rock will play against Siauliai (#5) on the road in the next round. Kalev/Cramo will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kalev/Cramo: G.Dorbek 18+5reb+2ast, M.Dunigan 11+7reb, T.Sokk 7+3reb, R.Keerles 7+4reb+2ast, G.Arbet 6+2reb, J.Toome 2+2reb
TU/Rock: C.Eziukwu 15+18reb+3ast, R.Veideman 13+5reb+3ast, G.Tsintsadze 9+7reb+3ast, V.Allingu 8+6reb, S.Sokk 8+2reb+7ast, M.Doronin 4+3reb
gschID: 117291


Norrkoping — Valmiera 88-83

No shocking result in a game when ninth ranked Swedish Norrkoping Dolphins (8-12) beat at home 12th ranked Latvian Valmiera (1-19) 88-83. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning the initial quarter 24-18. But Valmiera won second period 28-27. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Norrkoping Dolphins made 18-of-22 charity shots (81.8 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American-British power forward Randall Hanke (211-84, college: Providence) who scored 21 points and 9 rebounds. Guard Anton Saks (200-89) chipped in 15 points and 7 rebounds. Norrkoping Dolphins' coach Kelly Grant used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. At the other side the best for losing team was power forward Pavels Veselovs (207-83) who recorded 27 points and 6 rebounds and center Janis Graudins (201-78) added 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists respectively. Four Valmiera players scored in double figures. Defending Swedish champion moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Perlas. Valmiera lost their third game in a row. They keep the twelfth position with 19 games lost. Norrkoping Dolphins' next round opponent will be Perlas (#9) in Vilnius. Valmiera will play at home against TTU/Kalev in Tallinn and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Valmiera: P.Veselovs 27+6reb+1ast, J.Graudins 16+9reb+4ast, J.Berzins 11+2reb+3ast, R.Gabrans 11+7reb+6ast, O.Virsis 9+6reb+3ast, J.Kaufmanis 7+1reb
Norrkoping: R.Hanke 21+9reb+1ast, A.Saks 15+7reb+1ast, O.Ayuba 14+6reb+1ast, J.Kjellbom 9+8reb+2ast, P.Sakinis 8+3reb+1ast, G.Gervin 7+1reb+1ast
gschID: 122439


Ventspils — Liepaja 95-77

One of the most interesting games of round 21 was a derby match between two teams from Latvia. First ranked Ventspils won against visiting Liepaja (6-14) 95-77. The game was mostly controlled by Ventspils. Liepaja managed to win fourth quarter 26-23. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Ventspils dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Liepaja's 38 and made 27-of-31 free shots (87.1 percent) during the game, while Liepaja only scored six points from the stripe. Nigerian-Jamaican guard Oritseweyinmi Efejuku (196-86, college: Providence) nailed 30 points and 4 assists (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) for the winning side and center Lauris Blaus (204-90, agency: FCM) accounted for 17 points and 6 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). American guard Pierce Caldwell (191-88, college: Incarnate World) came up with 18 points and forward Mareks Mejeris (199-91) added 12 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Liepaja in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Ventspils (16-4) have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place. Loser Liepaja keeps the tenth position with 14 games lost. Ventspils will meet league's second-placed VEF Riga on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Liepaja will play against Nevezis (#6) in Kedainiai and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Liepaja: P.Caldwell 18+3reb+3ast, J.Aleksejevs 14+3reb+2ast, M.Mejeris 12+8reb, M.Kravcenko 11+1ast, A.Mitchell 9+3reb+3ast, D.Lejasmeiers 8+1reb
Ventspils: O.Efejuku 30+4reb+4ast, L.Blaus 17+6reb, A.Berzins 13+4reb+2ast, J.Strelnieks 13+4reb+4ast, M.Gulbis 7+7reb, A.Vairogs 7+5reb+4ast
gschID: 122440


Nevezis — VEF Riga 74-83

The game in Kedainiai was also worth to mention about. Second ranked Latvian VEF Riga (15-5) played at the court of 5th ranked Lithuanian Nevezis (12-8). VEF Riga managed to secure a 9-point victory 83-74. Nevezis were ahead by 6 points at the halftime before a 43-28 second half run of VEF Riga. They dominated on the defensive end, holding Nevezis to just 6 points in third quarter. They made 20-of-25 charity shots (80.0 percent) during the game. VEF Riga brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. The best player for the winners was Belarusian center Artsiom Parakhouski (211-87, college: Radford) who scored 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks. Swingman Dairis Bertans (192-89) chipped in 18 points. At the other side the best for losing team was center Egidijus Dimsa (205-85) who recorded 19 points and Swiss-Lithuanian guard Rolandas Alijevas (192-85) added 8 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists respectively. Nevezis' coach Rimas Girskis rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. VEF Riga maintains second place with 15-5 record having just -35 point less than leader Juventus. Nevezis lost their third game in a row. They keep the fifth position with eight games lost. VEF Riga's next round opponent will be league's leader Ventspils at home and it will be for sure the game of the week. Nevezis will play against Liepaja (#10).
Top scorers:
Nevezis: E.Dimsa 19+4reb, L.Brazdauskis 11+3reb+4ast, V.Cizauskas 9+3reb, R.Alijevas 8+8reb+5ast, L.Mikalauskas 7+3reb, E.Kalve 7+2reb
VEF Riga: A.Parakhouski 19+6reb+1ast, D.Bertans 18+3reb+3ast, G.Jahovics 10+9reb+3ast, T.Hughes 9+1reb+1ast, I.Nelyubov 8+3reb, K.Berzins 8+7reb+1ast